Walter Smith fears Rangers could be banned from Europe over the crowd trouble which marred their Champions League game against Unirea Urziceni.
The Ibrox club, who have been charged with the improper conduct of their supporters, will discover on Thursday whether they will be punished for the ugly scenes which occurred during Wednesday night's 1-1 Group G draw in Bucharest.
"Obviously, we have received warnings before and it will be hugely disappointing if it does impact on the footballing side of things," he said. "In the current climate, it's the last thing the club needs. European football is important to this club."
UEFA will take Rangers' previous conduct into account when deciding whether to take any action.
The club have been fined twice in the last four seasons by European football's governing body over the behaviour of their fans and manager Smith is worried the next sanction could be even more severe.
He added: "I'm not currently aware of the whole background of the situation. So whether you're critical of the supporters or critical of the policing and the stewards... it is left up to you.
"But it is a situation Rangers have been in before and we can't run away from the fact.
"If it does impact and the consequences mean we do have to miss European games then that would be an enormous blow for the club.
"I have no indication as to what UEFA are proposing but the thing Rangers can't run away from is it's not an isolated incident."
Comment 1 - 7 of 7
RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB
SCOTLANDS SHAME
AYE READY (TO CAUSE TROUBLE)
KICK THEM OUT,BAN THEM,AND FINE THEM
RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB
SCOTLANDS SHAME
AYE READY (TO CAUSE TROUBLE)
KICK THEM OUT,BAN THEM,AND FINE THEM
RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB
SCOTLANDS SHAME
AYE READY (TO CAUSE TROUBLE)
KICK THEM OUT,BAN THEM,AND FINE THEM
john fu ck off back to th peado page you came from,no @#$% replys to you!!
yet again we have had all those tims on gloating about the Rangers fans and the trouble in romania and yet again the tims make themselves out to be angels so maybe they can tell me about the riot they caused in a airport in spain after they played celta vigo.about the near riot against Rangers in the game hugh dallas was attacked with coins and the Rangers players were also hit wth coins and about the trouble they caused in blackburn and leeds not to mention how they attacked 2 rapid vienna players on the old trafford pitch and of course the the daddy of them all the mark walters fiasco could the greatest fans in the world explain all these incidents to me/ENGLISH SAM
Point 1, well said, agree 100 percent with your post, and your right, they won't come forward and take the blame, it will be the club and the honest fans that will suffer for this.
Rangers are forced to put their hands up and accept the responsibility for these odious cretins who have once again disgraced them; that is not an indictment, it is a matter of fact.
Walter Smith is a genuine and straightforward man, and a good man who has won the respect of the footballing world, and usually calls it as it is, he is however understating the case when he says that European Football is ‘important’ to the club. Frankly, if Rangers are banned from European Competition, the they can say good night to any potential investor, and the bank will then have to review the debt situation based on the fact that there will be no ‘extra’ income from Europe, so in reality, European football is essential to Rangers.
What mitigation can Rangers claim this time? that events outside the stadium, triggered bad behaviour inside….. tenuous at very best I suggest.
You people on the terracings KNOW who you are, you KNOW you were involved, you KNOW you have a case to answer, and you KNOW that the club that you will apparently ‘follow follow’ royally and regally until you die is about to be punished, perhaps into extinction, yet like the cowardly barstards that you are, you are prepared to sit back, let Rangers take the rap, and perhaps let your club die.
Why don’t you all stand on your own feet, own up to the fact that your actions were nothing to do with Rangers FC, represent yourselves to the authorities, via your big-mouthed supporters clubs who consistently play down your behaviour, plead your own case, and take whatever is coming to you as individuals and a group?
You won’t though, will you? Like most of the loudmouth ‘No Surrender’ brigade, you’re on the front line only until your nose bleeds, then you skulk off and let decent and honest people take the fall.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account